Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the capacity of her Departmental buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if she will make a statement.

My Department is currently based in two sites; Stormont House in Belfast and 1 Horse Guards Road in London. Both sites are leased, with the responsibility for energy supplies resting with the respective landlords.

The Northern Ireland Office managed Hillsborough Castle before handing over its responsibility to Historic Royal Palaces on 1 April 2014. Whilst under my Department’s management, a bio-mass heating system and solar panels were installed to provide the site with micro-generated, low-carbon energy.